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Brady McConnell signed his letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Florida at Merritt Island High School. Watching him is Kaley Verpaele, who signed to play soccer for the University of Alabama. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY

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Florida's Brady McConnell watches his hit during an NCAA college baseball game against Georgia, Sunday, May 5, 2019, in Athens, Ga. (AP Photo/John Amis)(Photo: John Amis, AP)

Florida shortstop Brady McConnell, a Merritt Island graduate, went to the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft on Monday night. He was the 44th overall pick.

McConnell hit .332, homered 15 times, drove in 48 runs and stole six bases as a Gators sophomore. The 44th pick is valued at approximately $1.69 million.

The draft continues at 1 p.m. today with seven more rounds. It resumes at the 11th round on Wednesday at noon. There will be 40 rounds.

While with the Mustangs, McConnell was named to the 2017 All-USA preseason team produced by USA Today, one of 20 players selected. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 33rd round two years ago but went to Florida instead.

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Palm Bay football players (left to right) George Davis, Xavier Centeio, Ja'Kobe Rutland and baseball players Nael Rojas and Danny King signed with colleges on May 16, 2019. Brian McCallum/FLORIDA TODAY

"He was such a special kid, and his work ethic was second to none," said Greg Plecki, McConnell's head coach at Merritt Island and now on the staff at Eastern Florida State. "To come out and have the season he had this year was amazing. It couldn't happen to a better kid."

One year ago, two Brevard County high school products were picked in the first round of the MLB Draft, Eau Gallie's Carter Stewart to the Atlanta Braves at No. 8 and Mason Denaburg, McConnell's former teammate, to the Washington Nationals at No. 27.

Parrish had a stronger sophomore year than the season he's had with the Seminoles in 2019. Last year, he was a first-team All-ACC honoree. This year, he posted a 5.07 ERA, up from 2.52 a year ago.

Follow the drafting of more Brevard products here throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.

Brevard County coaches have mentioned several other possibilities for later rounds of the 2019 draft, including former Viera players Alex Brait and Sebastian Samuels; Melbourne products Carson Jackson, Gabe Rodriguez and Sammy Duran; MCC's Nick Durgin, whose Hustlers team just won the Class 5A state title.